Profession: Soldier/Politician (U.S House of Representative from the Mississippi's At-Large Congressional District from March 4, 1845 – June 1846, U.S Senator from the state of Mississippi from August 10, 1847 – September 23, 1851, President of the Confederate States of America)
Battles/Wars: Mexican-American War (Branch- Mississippi Rifles)
Education: Wilkinson Academy (log cabin school), Saint Thomas Catholic School and Transylvania University.
Political Views:Democratic Party of the South
Religious Views: Episcopal
Spouses: Sarah Knox Taylor (June 17, 1835 to September 15, 1835) and Varina Howell (1845 - May 10, 1865)
Favorite quotes: * “I worked night and day for twelve years to prevent the war, but I could not. The North was mad and blind, would not let us govern ourselves, and so the war came.” (1861) * “All we ask is to be let alone.” (1862) * “Neither current events nor history show that the majority rule, or ever did rule. (1862) * “Never be haughty to the humble or humble to the haughty.”(1864) * “If the Confederacy fails, there should be written on its tombstone: Died of a Theory.” (1864)
Favorite books: The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life and The Sickness Unto Death.
Interests: Reading in my Presidential Library about history, being U.S Senator of Mississippi, drawing up battle plans with my war generals, fishing and spending time with family.
Likes: The Confederacy, democracy, slavery, and politics, Fugitive Slave Act
Dislikes: The Union, Southern Taxation, abolitionists and Anti-slavery supporters in Kansas and Nebraska
About me: Hello, y’all. I’m Jefferson Davis and I was born on June 3rd 1808 in Christian County, Kentucky. I was a sodier of the Missisipi Rifles and I fought in the Mexican-American War. I resigned from the army in 1835, married the daughter of Colonel Zachary Taylor; Sarah Knox Taylor and returned to Mississippi as a planter. My marriage was cut short when my wife suddenly died three months later of malaria. For ten years, I tended to my plantation, "Brierfield," read extensively, and made only infrequent excursions outside my community.
In 1845, I married a woman by the name of Varina Howell and had six children. At the same time, my career became more public when I was elected to Congress as a Democrat. I later got elected to the United States Senate where I became a leading spokesman for southern rights. On February 18, 1861, I was inaugurated President of the Confederate States of America. I was passionately committed to the cause of the Confederacy and the fight became a personal one.
Status Updates
1860:Abraham Lincoln is our new president. It seems to me that he is not the most liked president and he is a strong advocate of the abolition of slavery. Due to this, the South hates him and secession and war are sure to come...
1859: Just heard word about John Brown's failed raid on Harper's Ferry. Brown tried to capture the U.S Arsenal and was going to use it to start an armed slave revolt. I was glad that he failed because slave rebellions can destroy the economy of the South...
1858: This afternoon I read an article about the Marais des Cygnes massacre that took place in Kansas five free-state men were killed by proslavery supporters in Kansas. I can only imagine if these small massacres will lead to one giant one in the future...
1857: Word has just reached the South about the Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court Case. The Supreme Court ruled that blacks are not citizens and slaves cannot sue for freedom. This is good news for us plantation owners in the South, but I bet that the African American population is enraged...
1856: I witnessed a fight in Congress today. Preston Brooks, a senator form South Carolina attacked Charles Sumner, a senator from Massachusetts. Preston Brooks is a hero and he will be praised by the South for his appropriate actions. Since Mr. Brooks is a Southern Senator and Charles Sumner is a senator from the North, tensions between the North and the South will be intensified...
1855: Finally my prediction came through about the war between anti-slavery supporters and pro-slavery supporters in Kansas-Nebraska. 'dem folks call it "Bleeding Kansas" because of all the violence. These events also led up to the Wakarusa War that began later that years on November 21...Turns out that popular sovereignty is not working so well...
1854: Today I received news about the Kansas-Nebraska Act. I heard it introduced the idea of popular sovereignty and this repealed the Compromise of 1850. This is a disaster waiting to happen, now there is going to be a race between anti-slavery supporters and pro-slavery supporters to vote for or against slavery in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska...
1853:I just read an article in the newspaper about the Gadsden Purchase. I heard we bought it for $10,000,000 from Mexico and this new land will be a part of the transcontinental railroad. This is going to be good for the Southern Economy, I can't wait for it to be built...
1852: This morning when I picked up the newspaper, I saw that Frederick Douglas gave a speech called "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" speech in Rochester, New York. Read that he delivered an attack on the nation celebrating freedom and independence while millions of blacks are still slaves. I hate this speech...
1851: Early this morning, I read an article about Sojourner's Truth's "Ain't I a Woman Speech" that she delivered at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Who cares about the rights of colored females in a time like this. There is so much to deal with on the topic of slavery and where it should exist as we expand westward. The rights of colored females is the last thing on our minds...
1850:Well, today the Compromise of 1850, including a new Fugitive Slave Act was passed. The purpose of this is to keep the nation united but I have to wonder, how long will it last? Henry Clay, the creator of the Missouri Compromise has once again smoothed out tensions over the institution of slavery between the North and the South... what will happen when he is gone? A war maybe. Only time can tell...
Notes
Note # 1
"Slavery Through the Eyes of Jefferson Davis"
Those Northerners all say that slavery is unjust, demoralizing, inhumane, and cruel, but let me ask you this question. Is it not true that some Northern States used to think slavery was just, impartial and equitable before this institution wasabolished in their states? The North opposes slavery because they don’t need this kind of labor. They have their industrialized economy but we in the South need slaves to better our economy. The South needs slaves to harvest the cotton and all the other crops. The Northerners oppose slavery but they benefit from the institution that they so oppose. Did you know that Southern slaves produce 75% of the agricultural crops consumed in the North?
Slavery has been a part of our great nation and our unique culture since the first slave ship landed on Jamestown Colony on 1619. When that slave ship landed, those wise Jamestown colonists knew that their town needed strong able-bodied laborers since diseases, malnutrition and war were with the native Indians were killing most laborers. Since then it has grown significantly and has become embedded in our society and is one of the main causes of this Civil War. The North and the South could just not agree on where slavery would or would not exist as the US expanded westward. Although there was the Missouri Compromise, the Fugitive Slave Act and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, tensions just could not be quelled.
Why did early American colonials switch from indentured servant to slaves? First of all, an indentured servant is a worker, typically a laborer under contract to an employer for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for their transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities. I think that the main reason why this switch occurred is because plantation owners first started using indentured servants to do their labor for them. But as time went on, they realized that it was cheaper to buy slaves who had the same lifespan but would work their entire life instead of only for a set period. In order to make business more profitable, southern plantation owners had no choice but to convert to slave ownership instead of using indentured servants. Plantation owners determined that land layout, profit, and lifespan made it so that it was cheaper to own slaves than to have indentured servants. I strive to make my slaves as happy and comfortable as possible as well as to establish and maintain authority among them. I am like their stern yet kind father and they are my children. I share a paternalistic relationship with my slaves. They look to me for guidance, I provide food, shelter, and clothing for them just like how a father take care of their children. I use this paternal relationship to control my slaves and it is a very important part of my life as a plantation owner.
I own a slave plantation in Mississippi and I am very familiar with the institution of slavery. After my wife Sarah Taylor died, one of my closest companions was a slave by the name of James Pemberton who had served me as a body servant while in the military. I had a close relationship with James Pemberton because I taught him to read and he had certain privileges that the average slave would not have. I am amiable to my slaves and I fiercely deny any accusations of cruelty to slaves. To me slavery is a "stepping stone" for the Negro to become more perfect. Evidently, meaning to become more like the white man, the same concept held towards attempts to “civilize” the Native Americans. The Negros need help because they are just property and they have to learn the ways of our more advanced society. My attempts at this "perfection" of my slaves, unlike numerous other slave owners, included allowing them to hold their own courts and to set their own punishments. I also educated "the best of them." Giving these slaves these opportunities will help them to adapt to the world when they are eventually free. I view slavery in the most positive light. Slaves need to be protected and sheltered from the harsh reality of life.
Overall, slavery is essential to the part of the cotton-based economy of the South and as I once said “slavery is a divine blessing” and “slavery is the cornerstone of our Confederacy.” I am a religious man and through my constant reading of the Bible, I believe that the Bible sanctioned slavery. Due to my Episcopalian roots, I will accept this and embrace it. I believe that slaves will be gradually emancipated when they are ready to take on the "responsibility" of freedom.
Note # 2
"Resistance Came in different forms"
I was not even conceived when the Haitian Revolution began and I was just four years old when it ended. I heard that it was a period of violent conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, leading to the elimination of slavery and the establishment of Haiti as the first republic ruled by people of African ancestry. Abolitionists praised these “brave” and “determined warriors”. Guess what? I have even overheard a group of my elderly slaves telling the negro children how “glorious” it was when they heard the news of the French’s defeat. “Those Haitian Rebels were valiant. They defeated the army of one of the world powers of the time. Napoleon put his tiny little tail between his legs and crawled away like the coward he was, ” said Sarah. The slave woman also said, “those Rebels showed all the whites the will and capabilities of the black race.” Tommy, who was one of the slave children replied, “Auntie Sarah, do you think I have will and determination like those other Haitian Rebels. After all, Mr. Davis does not even see me as human. I am just his property.” Before Sarah could answer I stepped in. Everyone gasped, looking as scared as a turkey in November. I just broke up the conversation and send them off to bed. I did not whip them, after all, this Haitian Revolution thing means so much to them. Do you know what I think of the Haitian Revolution? This was just a rag-tag group of racketeers, bandits, and murderers who thought that they had rights. Who did they think they were? They had no right to resist. If I had been the general of that French Army, I would have made sure that none of them ever saw the light of day. This revolution also had a negative influence on slavery in British North America. During my childhood in the days after the revolution, rebellions and uprisings were carried out by slaves on plantations. The whites lost their confidence in slavery and the rebellion had a phycological impact on them. The revolt had given courage and determination to the slaves in British North America, who thought that they could repeat what was done in Haiti. My father owned a plantation and through his fear, he built a secret bunker where we could hide if there was a revolt. I cannot believe that whites were fearful of blacks, this is insane.
I have been noticing that the production of crops on my plantation have been decreasing lately. In January, my slaves should have harvested 100,000 pounds of tobacco but only 40,000 pounds was harvested. What is happening? I have also noticed that five of my “fresh off the shelf” slaves have become mysteriously sick. These slaves have just arrived on the plantation and they were healthy but now they are just suddenly sick. Also, due to the pain they are in, they could not work. Another interesting story is that all my machinery just broke down and stopped working. An even more interesting story is that I was expecting two new slaves to be born but then the two female slaves were not pregnant anymore. I knew that something was “fishy” so I started to investigate. When I told my friend Tom about all the mysterious cases, he simply said. ‘dem slaves are resisting your control. They are sabotaging you plantation.” Tom was absolutely right, the production rate of my tobacco was low because the field hands were working as slowly as possible. My five new slaves weren't really sick, they were malingering so that they would no go to work. My machinery did not just break because it was old, the slaves destroyed it because they wanted me to spend money to fix it and they would have the perfect excuse to not do any work. It turned out that the two slaves were pregnant but they used some kind of “African medicine” to terminate their pregnancy. They did not want me to improve my slave population. These slaves were also resisting by reading and stealing my money, valuables, livestock and food. These slaves will pay for this. They think that they could bamboozle Jefferson Davis and just get off scotch free. These slaves will pay, both adults and children will not get any food for a whole day. This will make them think twice before every trying to resist again. It was a good try though, but they should remember that whites are smarter that blacks. Who is getting sabotaged now?
My father always told me stories of abolitionists. He said that they are reformers who favor abolishing slavery. What can I say, I hate abolitionists. They can burn in hell for all I care. They want to take away our property, our rightful belongings that we paid for. What about the Fifth Amendment that states “… nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Does this mean anything to those abolitionists, after all it is the law of the land. The South needs slaves if our economy is to grow, they are the backbone of our Confederacy. If those abolitionists take that away, it will crumble. The North may have all their big machinery and industrial plants, but all the South has are slaves, tobacco and cotton. Due to the taxes imposed on cotton, free labor is the only alternative. The largest Anti-slavery groups were the Quakers, Pennsylvania Antislavery Society and the Massachusetts Antislavery Society. The Quaker’s hatred of slavery dates back to the 1600s and in 1775, they founded the first American Antislavery group. The Quakers think that the doctrines of their religion declared an issue such as slavery to be unjust. I think that these bastards are the root of this whole Anti-slavery movement because they inspired growing numbers of abolitionists. Some Quaker abolitionists are John Woolman, Benjamin Lundy and Lucretia Mott. The Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society was founded by Lucretia Mott and her husband. These devils helped slaves to escape and they influenced other slaves to do the same. They told slaves about the Underground Railroad, where to go and who to talk to. A similar organization was the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. It was headed by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator. They gave hope and confidence to the slaves. All I am saying is that resistance comes in many different forms to the institution of slavery but you just have to know how to deal with it.
Note # 3
"Voice of the Colored People"
I was just 21 years old on September 1829, when a Boston printer published a seventy-six page pamphlet entitled Walker's Appeal. This pamphlet was written by the black abolitionist, David Walker. Walker’s Appeal denounced the American institution of slavery as the most oppressive in world history and called on people of African descent to resist slavery and racism by any means. This was not taken lightly by us in the South. Planters were furious at David Walker because they were afraid that slaves would start to resist and would answer the call to arms. This could have meant death to many planters and they would have lost their property. The precious institution of slavery would have been disrupted. During slavery, planters did not want anyone or anything “corrupting” their slaves. Planters wanted to keep the slaves in the dark about any sensitive piece of information, especially any talk of rebellion and violence. My father owned a plantation in Mississippi and he was resentful of this document. He thought this one piece of paper could destroy everything that he had worked so hard for. My dad was not the only Southern Planter that despised this pamphlet and the author David Walker. A price was placed on his head for $10,000 if he were brought to the South alive and $1,000 if dead. I read the appeal of David Walker and it was one the most radical pieces of anti-slavery literature I have ever read. He did not have the right to publish this document because it was against the law in the South to incite rebellions. Further more, he tried to smuggle his pamphlets into the South by using black seamen. This surprised me because not even William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator, supported Walker’s approach toward emancipation. Most abolitionists at the time did not use such radical means of educating people about slavery and why it should be abolished but David Walker was “the odd one out.” I have to hand it to him though, it was a well crafted piece of black literature. He wrote from his heart, and with such passion that I am sure that this appeal will continue to inspire generations of black nationalist thinkers to come. Here is an excerpt that I tore out of this morning’s paper so you could see it:
Today, I read an article in the paper about Sojourner Truth’s famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech that it took place at a Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. This speech addressed the topic of women’s rights, something we don’t really pay much attention to in this country. Well, what can I say, we have more important things to focus on. Come on, we are dealing with the whole issue of Westward Expansion, the Missouri Compromise and the institution of slavery. The last thing I want to hear about is “women's rights.” Our culture states that men have more rights and privileges than women. They just stay home and cook, clean and take care of the babies. Lets get back to the speech, this is getting a little bit personal. Sojourner Truth did not just talk about women’s rights in general, she talked about how American Culture often place white women upon a pedestal and gives them certain privileges but that attitude is not extended to black women. Well, I can’t deny that; it is true. Most white women do not have to work. They just sit around all day, and their husbands provide for them. This privilege is not extended to poor whites who had to work. White women are more accepted into the society than blacks. The same cannot be said about black women. They have to work their butts off to make ends meet. They do not just sit around all day, they have to work like men. That is why Sojourner Truth said, “Ain’t I a Woman,” meaning that white females receive certain privileges while black females like herself do not. She is asking, Ain’t I a Woman just like the white women? It shocks me that a runaway like Sojourner Truth will risk her freedom to make this speech. She is lucky to be living in freedom up there in the North and she is making good use of it. I think that Sojourner Truth is a very talented writer although she did not receive a formal education. She brings forth an important part idea that a large part of the public has ignored.
Here is her speech, I just tore it out of the newspaper :
Photo Album
Me at age 36- 1844 when I was elected as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's At-large congressional district. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Jefferson_Davis_Miniature.png
Me at age 41- 1849 when I was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs http://www.kylincoln.org/NR/rdonlyres/1B1D0DD7-E832-43E0-B2CB-B6E7BF1682AD/0/Jefferson_Davis.jpg
Me in My Mexican-American War Uniform-1847. I was a member of the Mississippi Rifles http://americancivilwar.com/south/davis_uniform.jpg
My first wife, Sarah Knox Taylor-1835. She contracted malaria and died three months after our wedding http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Sarah_Knox_Taylor.jpg
Me and my wife Varina Howell-1845 http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BZFYe98kpkk/SXZmlFN_yoI/AAAAAAAABTY/tydwLTdGgq0/s400/Jefferson+Davis+Varina+Howell+Davis.jpg
My Second Wife, Varina Howell-1845 http://cohesion.rice.edu/humanities/pjdavis/emplibrary/vhd.jpg
This is my plantation in Mississippi. It is called the Briarfield Plantation and it was built in 1862 http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/images/578.jpg
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 brought more land into the South to be used as slave states http://www.fl-genweb.org/orange/Maps/LouisianaPurchase.jpg
Missouri Compromise of 1820 was one of the causes that lead to the secession of the South http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1483/1518969/DIVI181.jpg
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was where the idea of popular sovereignty determined if the institution of slavery would or would not be practiced in those territories. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/odyssey/archive/03/0320001r.jpg
My Presidential Inauguration as President of the Confederate States America- Montgomery, Alabama on February 18, 1861 http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Jefferson_Davis/Davis_Inauguration.jpg
Confederate Capital in Richmond, Virginia from May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865. This was where I did most of meetings with my cabinet and war generals such as Robert E. Lee http://americancivilwar.com/south/cfwh.gif
Cabinet of the CSA- Pictured From left to right are: Attornery-General Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of States Stephen Mallory, Secretary Christopher Memminger, Vice President Alexander Stephens, Secretary Leroy Pope Walker, President Jefferson Davis, Postmaster Reagan and Secretary Robert Toombs http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/ConfederateCabinet.jpg
Map of the Confederate States of America. Shows the states that were present in the CSA and their capitals http://missouriconfederatestateofamerica.com/Images/confederate_states_map1.gif
Flag of the Confederate States of America http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Flags/rebel-flag.jpg
Seal of the Confederate States of America 1862. This was placed on all the goods that was exported from the CSA http://scvcamp15.org/CSASeal.jpg
Patch of the Confederate States of America that was worn by the Southern Rebels http://www.cypresscollectibles.com/ebayimages/biker/ConfederateStates.jpg
This is me on the CSA Postage Stamps. This was also practiced by the Union http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Jefferson_Davis_CSA_Postage_Stamps_1862-63.jpg/200px-Jefferson_Davis_CSA_Postage_Stamps_1862-63.jpg
This is me on $50 bill of the CSA. Having our own currency in the South was an important step in becoming a real nation. http://www.csaquotes.com/images/831_T50CR361A-14535.jpg
This is me on the $5 note of the CSA. Having our own currency in the South was an important step in becoming a real nation http://www.deerrunmercantile.com/images/products/detail/t33fivedol26435F.jpg
This is me on the front of dixie bill of the CSA. Having our own currency in the South was an important step in becoming a real nation http://fakemillions.com/images/dixie.jpg
onfederate Army charge Union Positions during the First Battle of Bull Run on 1861, near Manassas, Virginia http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/NWPPOD/EVCW2A-00080.jpg
Abraham Lincoln, President of the Union during the Civil War http://americancivilwar.com/north/lincoln_bw2.jpg
Last Battle of the Civil War at Palmito Ranch, May 12 – May 13, 1865 at Brownsville, Texas http://op-for.com/painting.jpg
I was imprisoned on May 19, 186 at Fortress Monroe, on the coast of Virginia after after the end of the Civil War http://clevelandcivilwarroundtable.com/images/places/davis_monroe.jpg
This is me in 1885 outside my home in Biloxi, Mississippi. I lived a normal life after the war http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/1885JeffersonDavis.jpg
Bibliography
"African American History." “Aint I A Woman”: Reminiscences of Sojourner Truth Speaking by Sojourner Truth. History Matters, n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2010. <http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5740/>.
"American History." Jefferson Davis 1808 - 1889 President of the Confederate States of America. Evisum, 2000. Web. 27 Mar 2010. <http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5740/>.
Halsall, Paul. "Modern History Sourcebook: Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman?." Website for Teacher & Students. Fordham, Aug 1997 . Web. 22 Mar 2010. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth2.html>.
Name: Jefferson Finis Davis
Born: June 3rd 1808
Parents: Samuel Emory Davis and Jane Cook
Hometown: Christian County, Kentucky
Gender: Male
Profession: Soldier/Politician (U.S House of Representative from the Mississippi's At-Large Congressional District from March 4, 1845 – June 1846, U.S Senator from the state of Mississippi from August 10, 1847 – September 23, 1851, President of the Confederate States of America)
Battles/Wars: Mexican-American War (Branch- Mississippi Rifles)
Education: Wilkinson Academy (log cabin school), Saint Thomas Catholic School and Transylvania University.
Political Views: Democratic Party of the South
Religious Views: Episcopal
Spouses: Sarah Knox Taylor (June 17, 1835 to September 15, 1835) and Varina Howell (1845 - May 10, 1865)
Favorite quotes:
* “I worked night and day for twelve years to prevent the war, but I could not. The North was mad and blind, would not let us govern ourselves, and so the war came.” (1861)
* “All we ask is to be let alone.” (1862)
* “Neither current events nor history show that the majority rule, or ever did rule. (1862)
* “Never be haughty to the humble or humble to the haughty.”(1864)
* “If the Confederacy fails, there should be written on its tombstone: Died of a Theory.” (1864)
Favorite books: The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life and The Sickness Unto Death.
Interests: Reading in my Presidential Library about history, being U.S Senator of Mississippi, drawing up battle plans with my war generals, fishing and spending time with family.
Likes: The Confederacy, democracy, slavery, and politics, Fugitive Slave Act
Dislikes: The Union, Southern Taxation, abolitionists and Anti-slavery supporters in Kansas and Nebraska
About me: Hello, y’all. I’m Jefferson Davis and I was born on June 3rd 1808 in Christian County, Kentucky. I was a sodier of the Missisipi Rifles and I fought in the Mexican-American War. I resigned from the army in 1835, married the daughter of Colonel Zachary Taylor; Sarah Knox Taylor and returned to Mississippi as a planter. My marriage was cut short when my wife suddenly died three months later of malaria. For ten years, I tended to my plantation, "Brierfield," read extensively, and made only infrequent excursions outside my community.
In 1845, I married a woman by the name of Varina Howell and had six children. At the same time, my career became more public when I was elected to Congress as a Democrat. I later got elected to the United States Senate where I became a leading spokesman for southern rights. On February 18, 1861, I was inaugurated President of the Confederate States of America. I was passionately committed to the cause of the Confederacy and the fight became a personal one.
Status Updates
1860: Abraham Lincoln is our new president. It seems to me that he is not the most liked president and he is a strong advocate of the abolition of slavery. Due to this, the South hates him and secession and war are sure to come...
1859: Just heard word about John Brown's failed raid on Harper's Ferry. Brown tried to capture the U.S Arsenal and was going to use it to start an armed slave revolt. I was glad that he failed because slave rebellions can destroy the economy of the South...
1858: This afternoon I read an article about the Marais des Cygnes massacre that took place in Kansas five free-state men were killed by proslavery supporters in Kansas. I can only imagine if these small massacres will lead to one giant one in the future...
1857: Word has just reached the South about the Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court Case. The Supreme Court ruled that blacks are not citizens and slaves cannot sue for freedom. This is good news for us plantation owners in the South, but I bet that the African American population is enraged...
1856: I witnessed a fight in Congress today. Preston Brooks, a senator form South Carolina attacked Charles Sumner, a senator from Massachusetts. Preston Brooks is a hero and he will be praised by the South for his appropriate actions. Since Mr. Brooks is a Southern Senator and Charles Sumner is a senator from the North, tensions between the North and the South will be intensified...
1855: Finally my prediction came through about the war between anti-slavery supporters and pro-slavery supporters in Kansas-Nebraska. 'dem folks call it "Bleeding Kansas" because of all the violence. These events also led up to the Wakarusa War that began later that years on November 21...Turns out that popular sovereignty is not working so well...
1854: Today I received news about the Kansas-Nebraska Act. I heard it introduced the idea of popular sovereignty and this repealed the Compromise of 1850. This is a disaster waiting to happen, now there is going to be a race between anti-slavery supporters and pro-slavery supporters to vote for or against slavery in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska...
1853: I just read an article in the newspaper about the Gadsden Purchase. I heard we bought it for $10,000,000 from Mexico and this new land will be a part of the transcontinental railroad. This is going to be good for the Southern Economy, I can't wait for it to be built...
1852: This morning when I picked up the newspaper, I saw that Frederick Douglas gave a speech called "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" speech in Rochester, New York. Read that he delivered an attack on the nation celebrating freedom and independence while millions of blacks are still slaves. I hate this speech...
1851: Early this morning, I read an article about Sojourner's Truth's "Ain't I a Woman Speech" that she delivered at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Who cares about the rights of colored females in a time like this. There is so much to deal with on the topic of slavery and where it should exist as we expand westward. The rights of colored females is the last thing on our minds...
1850: Well, today the Compromise of 1850, including a new Fugitive Slave Act was passed. The purpose of this is to keep the nation united but I have to wonder, how long will it last? Henry Clay, the creator of the Missouri Compromise has once again smoothed out tensions over the institution of slavery between the North and the South... what will happen when he is gone? A war maybe. Only time can tell...
Notes
Note # 1
"Slavery Through the Eyes of Jefferson Davis"
Those Northerners all say that slavery is unjust, demoralizing, inhumane, and cruel, but let me ask you this question. Is it not true that some Northern States used to think slavery was just, impartial and equitable before this institution wasabolished in their states? The North opposes slavery because they don’t need this kind of labor. They have their industrialized economy but we in the South need slaves to better our economy. The South needs slaves to harvest the cotton and all the other crops. The Northerners oppose slavery but they benefit from the institution that they so oppose. Did you know that Southern slaves produce 75% of the agricultural crops consumed in the North?Slavery has been a part of our great nation and our unique culture since the first slave ship landed on Jamestown Colony on 1619. When that slave ship landed, those wise Jamestown colonists knew that their town needed strong able-bodied laborers since diseases, malnutrition and war were with the native Indians were killing most laborers. Since then it has grown significantly and has become embedded in our society and is one of the main causes of this Civil War. The North and the South could just not agree on where slavery would or would not exist as the US expanded westward. Although there was the Missouri Compromise, the Fugitive Slave Act and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, tensions just could not be quelled.
Why did early American colonials switch from indentured servant to slaves? First of all, an indentured servant is a worker, typically a laborer under contract to an employer for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for their transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities. I think that the main reason why this switch occurred is because plantation owners first started using indentured servants to do their labor for them. But as time went on, they realized that it was cheaper to buy slaves who had the same lifespan but would work their entire life instead of only for a set period. In order to make business more profitable, southern plantation owners had no choice but to convert to slave ownership instead of using indentured servants. Plantation owners determined that land layout, profit, and lifespan made it so that it was cheaper to own slaves than to have indentured servants. I strive to make my slaves as happy and comfortable as possible as well as to establish and maintain authority among them. I am like their stern yet kind father and they are my children. I share a paternalistic relationship with my slaves. They look to me for guidance, I provide food, shelter, and clothing for them just like how a father take care of their children. I use this paternal relationship to control my slaves and it is a very important part of my life as a plantation owner.
I own a slave plantation in Mississippi and I am very familiar with the institution of slavery. After my wife Sarah Taylor died, one of my closest companions was a slave by the name of James Pemberton who had served me as a body servant while in the military. I had a close relationship with James Pemberton because I taught him to read and he had certain privileges that the average slave would not have. I am amiable to my slaves and I fiercely deny any accusations of cruelty to slaves. To me slavery is a "stepping stone" for the Negro to become more perfect. Evidently, meaning to become more like the white man, the same concept held towards attempts to “civilize” the Native Americans. The Negros need help because they are just property and they have to learn the ways of our more advanced society. My attempts at this "perfection" of my slaves, unlike numerous other slave owners, included allowing them to hold their own courts and to set their own punishments. I also educated "the best of them." Giving these slaves these opportunities will help them to adapt to the world when they are eventually free. I view slavery in the most positive light. Slaves need to be protected and sheltered from the harsh reality of life.
Overall, slavery is essential to the part of the cotton-based economy of the South and as I once said “slavery is a divine blessing” and “slavery is the cornerstone of our Confederacy.” I am a religious man and through my constant reading of the Bible, I believe that the Bible sanctioned slavery. Due to my Episcopalian roots, I will accept this and embrace it. I believe that slaves will be gradually emancipated when they are ready to take on the "responsibility" of freedom.
Note # 2
"Resistance Came in different forms"
I was not even conceived when the Haitian Revolution began and I was just four years old when it ended. I heard that it was a period of violent conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, leading to the elimination of slavery and the establishment of Haiti as the first republic ruled by people of African ancestry. Abolitionists praised these “brave” and “determined warriors”. Guess what? I have even overheard a group of my elderly slaves telling the negro children how “glorious” it was when they heard the news of the French’s defeat. “Those Haitian Rebels were valiant. They defeated the army of one of the world powers of the time. Napoleon put his tiny little tail between his legs and crawled away like the coward he was, ” said Sarah. The slave woman also said, “those Rebels showed all the whites the will and capabilities of the black race.” Tommy, who was one of the slave children replied, “Auntie Sarah, do you think I have will and determination like those other Haitian Rebels. After all, Mr. Davis does not even see me as human. I am just his property.” Before Sarah could answer I stepped in. Everyone gasped, looking as scared as a turkey in November. I just broke up the conversation and send them off to bed. I did not whip them, after all, this Haitian Revolution thing means so much to them. Do you know what I think of the Haitian Revolution? This was just a rag-tag group of racketeers, bandits, and murderers who thought that they had rights. Who did they think they were? They had no right to resist. If I had been the general of that French Army, I would have made sure that none of them ever saw the light of day. This revolution also had a negative influence on slavery in British North America. During my childhood in the days after the revolution, rebellions and uprisings were carried out by slaves on plantations. The whites lost their confidence in slavery and the rebellion had a phycological impact on them. The revolt had given courage and determination to the slaves in British North America, who thought that they could repeat what was done in Haiti. My father owned a plantation and through his fear, he built a secret bunker where we could hide if there was a revolt. I cannot believe that whites were fearful of blacks, this is insane.
I have been noticing that the production of crops on my plantation have been decreasing lately. In January, my slaves should have harvested 100,000 pounds of tobacco but only 40,000 pounds was harvested. What is happening? I have also noticed that five of my “fresh off the shelf” slaves have become mysteriously sick. These slaves have just arrived on the plantation and they were healthy but now they are just suddenly sick. Also, due to the pain they are in, they could not work. Another interesting story is that all my machinery just broke down and stopped working. An even more interesting story is that I was expecting two new slaves to be born but then the two female slaves were not pregnant anymore. I knew that something was “fishy” so I started to investigate. When I told my friend Tom about all the mysterious cases, he simply said. ‘dem slaves are resisting your control. They are sabotaging you plantation.” Tom was absolutely right, the production rate of my tobacco was low because the field hands were working as slowly as possible. My five new slaves weren't really sick, they were malingering so that they would no go to work. My machinery did not just break because it was old, the slaves destroyed it because they wanted me to spend money to fix it and they would have the perfect excuse to not do any work. It turned out that the two slaves were pregnant but they used some kind of “African medicine” to terminate their pregnancy. They did not want me to improve my slave population. These slaves were also resisting by reading and stealing my money, valuables, livestock and food. These slaves will pay for this. They think that they could bamboozle Jefferson Davis and just get off scotch free. These slaves will pay, both adults and children will not get any food for a whole day. This will make them think twice before every trying to resist again. It was a good try though, but they should remember that whites are smarter that blacks. Who is getting sabotaged now?
My father always told me stories of abolitionists. He said that they are reformers who favor abolishing slavery. What can I say, I hate abolitionists. They can burn in hell for all I care. They want to take away our property, our rightful belongings that we paid for. What about the Fifth Amendment that states “… nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Does this mean anything to those abolitionists, after all it is the law of the land. The South needs slaves if our economy is to grow, they are the backbone of our Confederacy. If those abolitionists take that away, it will crumble. The North may have all their big machinery and industrial plants, but all the South has are slaves, tobacco and cotton. Due to the taxes imposed on cotton, free labor is the only alternative. The largest Anti-slavery groups were the Quakers, Pennsylvania Antislavery Society and the Massachusetts Antislavery Society. The Quaker’s hatred of slavery dates back to the 1600s and in 1775, they founded the first American Antislavery group. The Quakers think that the doctrines of their religion declared an issue such as slavery to be unjust. I think that these bastards are the root of this whole Anti-slavery movement because they inspired growing numbers of abolitionists. Some Quaker abolitionists are John Woolman, Benjamin Lundy and Lucretia Mott. The Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society was founded by Lucretia Mott and her husband. These devils helped slaves to escape and they influenced other slaves to do the same. They told slaves about the Underground Railroad, where to go and who to talk to. A similar organization was the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. It was headed by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator. They gave hope and confidence to the slaves. All I am saying is that resistance comes in many different forms to the institution of slavery but you just have to know how to deal with it.
Note # 3
"Voice of the Colored People"
I was just 21 years old on September 1829, when a Boston printer published a seventy-six page pamphlet entitled Walker's Appeal. This pamphlet was written by the black abolitionist, David Walker. Walker’s Appeal denounced the American institution of slavery as the most oppressive in world history and called on people of African descent to resist slavery and racism by any means. This was not taken lightly by us in the South. Planters were furious at David Walker because they were afraid that slaves would start to resist and would answer the call to arms. This could have meant death to many planters and they would have lost their property. The precious institution of slavery would have been disrupted. During slavery, planters did not want anyone or anything “corrupting” their slaves. Planters wanted to keep the slaves in the dark about any sensitive piece of information, especially any talk of rebellion and violence. My father owned a plantation in Mississippi and he was resentful of this document. He thought this one piece of paper could destroy everything that he had worked so hard for. My dad was not the only Southern Planter that despised this pamphlet and the author David Walker. A price was placed on his head for $10,000 if he were brought to the South alive and $1,000 if dead. I read the appeal of David Walker and it was one the most radical pieces of anti-slavery literature I have ever read. He did not have the right to publish this document because it was against the law in the South to incite rebellions. Further more, he tried to smuggle his pamphlets into the South by using black seamen. This surprised me because not even William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator, supported Walker’s approach toward emancipation. Most abolitionists at the time did not use such radical means of educating people about slavery and why it should be abolished but David Walker was “the odd one out.” I have to hand it to him though, it was a well crafted piece of black literature. He wrote from his heart, and with such passion that I am sure that this appeal will continue to inspire generations of black nationalist thinkers to come. Here is an excerpt that I tore out of this morning’s paper so you could see it:
Today, I read an article in the paper about Sojourner Truth’s famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech that it took place at a Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. This speech addressed the topic of women’s rights, something we don’t really pay much attention to in this country. Well, what can I say, we have more important things to focus on. Come on, we are dealing with the whole issue of Westward Expansion, the Missouri Compromise and the institution of slavery. The last thing I want to hear about is “women's rights.” Our culture states that men have more rights and privileges than women. They just stay home and cook, clean and take care of the babies. Lets get back to the speech, this is getting a little bit personal. Sojourner Truth did not just talk about women’s rights in general, she talked about how American Culture often place white women upon a pedestal and gives them certain privileges but that attitude is not extended to black women. Well, I can’t deny that; it is true. Most white women do not have to work. They just sit around all day, and their husbands provide for them. This privilege is not extended to poor whites who had to work. White women are more accepted into the society than blacks. The same cannot be said about black women. They have to work their butts off to make ends meet. They do not just sit around all day, they have to work like men. That is why Sojourner Truth said, “Ain’t I a Woman,” meaning that white females receive certain privileges while black females like herself do not. She is asking, Ain’t I a Woman just like the white women? It shocks me that a runaway like Sojourner Truth will risk her freedom to make this speech. She is lucky to be living in freedom up there in the North and she is making good use of it. I think that Sojourner Truth is a very talented writer although she did not receive a formal education. She brings forth an important part idea that a large part of the public has ignored.
Here is her speech, I just tore it out of the newspaper :
Photo Album
National Anthem of the Confederate States of America (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3d4SBVjgEs)
Common Patriotic Song in the South After the war
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yooAFCUqe0o)
Bibliography
Link to the events leading up to the Civil War Graphic Organizer
http://www.dipity.com/erinnnaceous/personal